Railway-car-truck spring



March 25, 1930. c. HANKINS 1,751,917

RAILWAY CAR TRUCK SPRING Filed June 15, 1925 2 sheets-sheet l C. HANKINS RAILWAY CAR TRUCK SPRING March 25, 1930.

Filed June 13, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 25, 1930 U FBTED STATES CYRUS HANKINS, OF BALTIMORE, LYIARYLAND, ASSG-NOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO T. H. SYMINGTN AND SON, ENC., OF BALTJIORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION 0F MARYLAND RAILWAY-CAR-TRUCK SPRING- Applcation filed .Tune 13,

ment of the springs in all planes at an angle f to lthe line of load.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure of this character in which the casing sections are equipped with means directly engaged by the cushioning means and acting to take up any wear caused by chafing, the casing sections themselves being consequently relieved of such wear.

A further object ot the invention is to provide wear take-up means which will act also Vto retain the cushioning means in proper lil operative position within and between the casing sections whereby displacement or dislocation of the cushioning elements in any direction other than in the line of load will be prevented. f

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a spring device in which the weartake-up members or means will act also as guides during movement of the casing sections toward each other under compression, the weartake-up members being connected with and carried by the casing sections so as to move therewith, the connection being, moreover, one avoiding the employment ol auxiliary securingelements, the cushioning means coacting with the wear take-up members to retain them in place.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision-otv a device of this character in which the wear take-up means also constitutesspacing means for the sets of springs v constituting the cushioning means, the successive sets being consequently maintained 1925. Serial No. 36,976.

out of engagement so that friction will be reduced.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages such as simplicity, cheapness in manufacture, ease of assembling and convenience in installation the invention may consist in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement oic parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like .characters oit reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a railway truck trame showing the spring device in place,

n igurc 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the complete assembled device on substantially the line 2 2 oia Figure Figure 3 is a central cross section therethrough, the view being` taken on substantially the line 3 3 ot Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1 4 of Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a detail perspective view showing coactin g groups of the combined wear receiving, guiding and spring spacing means.

Referring more particularly to the drawings I have illustrated va portion of a railway car truck including Athe usual frame 1 having a window opening 2 therein within which is located my spring device designated generally by the numeral 3, this spring device being interposed between the spring seat s and the bolster 5.

In carrying out the invention I provide a sectional casing or housing including upper and lower similar pans or casing sections 6 having peripheral flanges 7 and arranged in vertical spaced relation with their flanges eX- tending toward each other. VThe casing dened by these sections contains and substantially encloses the cushioning means which preferably consists of sets of concentric elongated plate springs 8 arranged in superposed groups or banks in any desired manner. It preferred, the arrangement may be such as that disclosed in my co-pending application filed June 13, 1925, Serial No. 36,978

load'I'preferablyl provide a plurality'of combined'Wea-r, guide and spacing members iiidicated generally at9 and 10, these members being located within the end portions of the pans or casing sections and .arranged in groups, the number in a group depending upon the number of sets of springs employed. Each member 9 is shown as comprising a substantially U-shapedbody including a plate portion 11 and arm portions 12 and 13, all of which preferably have their upper edges iiush. The lower edge of the plate portion 1l is inclined as indicated at 14 and the lower edges of the arml portions 12 and 13 are oppositely inclined; as shownat. 15 and 16. As three sets of springsfare illustrated I make use of three of the members 9 arranged side by side and located within each end of the upper pan or casing section, the plate portions 11 bearing against theinner faces of the end flanges, and the Varm portion 12 of one endmost member bearingk against or located adjacent the inner face of one side flange. Thearm portion 13 of the other endmost one of the group is disposed adjacent the inner face of the opposite side flange. This arrangement is well illustrated in Figure 3. The other arm portions 12 and 13 are-located adjacent each other and may be in'contact if such is found desirable for any reason. The members 9 are of sufficient lengthsthat the ends of the platepprtionsf11 andarms 12 will extend below the upper edge of the lower pan or casing section when the two casing sections are in their outermost or most `widely` separated position; Y

Each ofthe members 10 may be formed as a 'U-shaped body including a plate portion 17 and Varmportions 18Vand 19 allof which liavetheir lower edges flush or in thel same plane. The upper edge 20 ofthe platefportion 17`is inclined corresponding to the inclination ofthe edge 14 of theplgate portion 1l of the member 9 so as to be parallel therewith, Yand the `upper edges 21 and 22 Vof the arni portionsrelS and-19 are inclined atthe saine angle as the edgesl. and loof the meinber 9 locatednthereabove. VVVThe number of members v1.() corresponds tov they number of members l9 .and they are located therebelow. The length oftheplate portions 17 and Aarm portions A19 yis `such that they .will project up-y wardly beyond` the .lower edge of the upper pan Orcasiiig section.

These membersQ andv 10'. are-located With-f in` the upper4 andL lower pans, respectively,

and are held thereto as for instance by means of outstruck lugs 23 and 24 formed, respectively, on the plate portions 11 and 17, these lugs passing through suitable slots 25 formed on the Amembers 9 and 10 except at those points where the springs engage the top and bottom of the respective pans.. The spacing apart of the sets of springs greatly reduces friction between the sets. Owing tothe fact that the upper members 9 project'into the lower pan or casing section and that the-members 10 project into the upper panl or casing section., it isclear that there is never an unobstructed spaceL between the casing sections permitting` lateral displacement of .anyof the individual elements inthe groups1 or banks of springs. Obviously this will prevent movement in all planes at an angle to the line of load, the movement being thus entirely confined to the vertical.; The members V9; and 10 coact to constitute guides not only for kthe springs but also for-the casing, sectionsas they move together under compression or apart Linder release. As the confronting., inclined edges of the upper and lower members 9and 10 are parallelthere can neverbe any inter-y ference with theparts.;

From the foregoing Vthe structural features abovek set forthv and the characteristics resulting therefrom will be the properimove'mentof any ofY n vdescription and aV y .Y study of the drawingsit will be seen that I iio highly eiiicient andsatisfactory-,in use and also durable. in servicevr especially as the arrangement and combination are such that dis?` location f or likelihood' of destruction frein wear and other causes. will bereduced tothe minimum. f Y Y c While I `have shown and. described a preferred embodiment oftheinvention, it should be understood that the exact details aremerely illustrative' as various.modificationsand i changes lmaybefmade withilnthe'spirit of the invention and without departing from the scope of theappended claims.- i

Having fthus describedfithe finvention,l

claim 1. In,k arailwayvcar -t-ruclif spring device, a

pair of casing, sections of pan-like` formation arranged with@ their i open sides toward .each j other and normally spaced apart, sets of cushioning devices located within and between the casing sections, and means detachably mounted within said sections for spacing the adjacent sets laterally apart.

ln a railway car truck spring device, a pair of casing sections of pan-like formation arranged with their open sides toward each other and normally spaced apart, sets of cushdevices arranged side by side located in and between the casing sections, and incluis engaging against outer sides of the cushioning devices for spacing the adjacent apart and spacing the outermost sets from the sides of the casing sections.

ln a railway car truck spring device, a pair of casing sections of pan-like formation arranged with their open sides toward each other and normally spaced apart, sets of cushioning devices located within and between the casing sections, and means spacing the adjacent sets apart, said means in each casing section extending intothe other for preventing movement of the cushioning means in all planes at an angle to the line of load.

4. ln a railway car truclr spring device, upper lower members, a plurality of sets of concentric plate springs interposed between said members, and means carried by said members and forming pockets within which the ends of the sets of springs are enin a railway car truck spring device, upper anl lower main members, a plurality of sets of springs arranged side by side between said members, and means carried by said main members and extending toward each other in overlapping spaced relation defining pockets receiving the springs for maintaining them in spaced relation and preventing` lateral movement thereof.

G. ,ln a railway truck spring device, upper and lower members, a plurality of sets of elcngated plate springs interposed between members, and spacing members carried by the upper and lower members and arranged in spaced overlapping relation, said spacing members including arm portions lohetween the sets of springs.

2. ln a railway truck spring device, upper and lower casing sections having flanges eX- tending toward each other, the ilanges being formed with slots, a plurality of sets of elongated plate springs interposed between the casing sections, and groups of angular members mounted within the upper and lower casing sect-ions and having lugs passing through said slots, said angular members having portions located between the sets of springs for maintaining the same in spaced relation. Y

S. ln a railway truck spring device, upper and lower casing sections having flanges eX- tending toward each other, the flanges being icrmed with slots, a plurality of sets of elontid pla e springs interposed between the s' "ons, and groups of angular memen within the upper and lower ions and having lugs passing i said slots, said angular members ig portions located between the sets of for maintaining the same in spaced 1 the angular members in each casing extending into the other.

9. In railway truck spring device, upper and lower casing sections having flanges eX- tending toward each other, the flanges being formed with slots, a plurality of sets of elongated plate springs interposed between the casing sections, and groups of angular members mounted within the upper and lower casing sections and having lugs passing through said slots, said angular members having portions located between the sets ot springs for maintaining the same in spaced relation, the angular members in each casing section eX- tending into the other, the confronting edges of the upper and lower angular members being inclined, parallel and spaced to permit movement of the casing sections toward each other.

l0. In a railway truck spring device, upper and lower casing sections, elongated concentric plate spring interposed between said sections, and substantially Ushaped members mounted within the casing sections and embracingly engaging said springs, said members having spaced overlapping portions.

l1. ln a spring structure, spaced casing sections having flanges, pocket forming members located within the sections and detachably connected with the flanges thereof, and cushioning means located within the pocket forming members.

l2. ln a spring structure, upper and lower spaced casing sections, laterally arranged pocket forming members located within the sections, and cushioning means arranged between the sections and including a plurality of sets of superposed plats springs having their end portions embracingly engaged within said pocket forming members.

13. In a spring structure, spaced casing sections, pocket forming members mounted therein and detachably directl)7 connected thereto, and a plurality of sets of superposed plate springs arranged between the sections with their end portions engaged within said pocket forming members.

le. In a railway truck spring structure, spaced casing sections, a plurality of angular pocket forming members located within the casing sections, means for holding the pocket forming members anchored to the sections for movement therewith, and superposed plate springs engaged within and confined by said pocket forming members.

l5. In a spring structure, spaced casing sections, pocket forming members removably mounted within the sections, and a plurality of banks'of plate springs located between the sectionsiwith the banks arranged side by side, andthe respective banks being engaged withinV corresponding pocket forming members.

16. In a spring structure, spaced casing sections, cushion members located between the sections and spacing and guide members detachably mounted within the casing sections andembracingly engaging said cushion members, said spacing' and guide members'being arranged side by side in contacting relation. f

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

CYRUS HANKINS. 

